Compare towns
Stratton vs Jay vs Belvidere vs Panton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Panton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Stratton | Jay | Belvidere | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
471 |
422Lowest |
690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
| Jay and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Panton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
35.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Panton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
| Stratton and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
| Panton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
— | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,410±$130 14% above VT |
| Belvidere and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 6% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.